My Dear Friend,

He led them through the depths," says Psalm 106:9, speaking of the way God chose to lead the Hebrews through the Red Sea. It was not an easy path.

It was deep. It was dark. It was strange. It was a totally new adversity spawning pressing new fears of the unknown. Initially, the Hebrews were terrified by all the intimidating evidence. They could feel the powerful winds God used to blow open their path through the depths. They could hear the waters washing back and forth against their invisible barriers. They could see the massive walls of water on both sides of their pathway that looked ready to come crashing down on them at any moment. No visible restraints held them back from unleashing a sudden, overpowering deluge.

To make matters worse, they couldn't see the end of their pathway, nor could they now see the shoreline from which they had begun their terrifying trek through the sea. Hour after interminable hour, minute by slow minute, there was no place from the natural perspective where they could feel safe, secure, and released from the crushing pressure. It seemed sure all would be lost any moment in a sudden, catastrophic disaster. But other evidence was in their favor.

Despite their dire circumstances, their God was still present and guiding! "He led them through the depths." He was still close by. Still watching. Still all-knowing. Still all-powerful. Still protecting. Still loving them. Still communicating with their leaders. Still faithfully remembering His promise to take them all the way through to a far better land on the other side of the Red Sea. How did it all end?

"He saved them" (Psalm 106:10). Instead of overwhelming them, the dark waters of disaster that loomed ominously "covered their enemies" (Psalm 106:11). "Then" they "believed His words" (Psalm 106:12). Then they "sang his praise" (Psalm 106:12). The lesson for us?

Perhaps at this very moment you are in a similar place. Not threatened by literal waters and pursuing armies, but by spiritual troubles and demonic adversaries, which are often symbolized in the Bible by storms or floods of water (see Psalm 69:1-2, 14-15). Towering walls of impossibility seem to block your way to the fulfillment of God's promises in your life. Waves of fear, anxiety, and emotional turmoil buffet you threateningly one after the other. The way is dark - with little light of God's open favor shining on your path. The way is deep - deeper trouble than you've ever experienced. The way is strange - so unfamiliar, so unlike any trial your friends or acquaintances have experienced. And your "enemies" - not only demons but also people they inspire to criticize, condemn, or falsely accuse you, or hostilely oppose your faith, life-walk, or ministry - pursue you relentlessly.

Their discouraging, mean-spirited words, crafted to make others reject you or cause you to self-destruct, haunt your mind, popping up when you least expect them. Like evil counselors, they repeatedly suggest you should quit, go back, or try to find rest somewhere, anywhere, in another seemingly easier place. Though diverse, they all agree on one thing: you should not persevere through "the depths" until you get to the other side of God's purpose.

Meanwhile, your feelings vary from lukewarm to cold to colder, as doubting thoughts, troubling appearances, and fickle feelings dance around you. Soon, despite long years of Bible study and prayer, you find yourself worrying that God may not show up after all. Friend, don't give up. Look up. And cheer up! Other evidence is in your favor.

"He" is still leading you through your "depths" - untimely bereavements, serious illnesses, lawsuits, business failures, shocking betrayals, a crippling divorce, church splits, financial disaster, unrelieved loneliness, your child's open rebellion, or other gut-wrenching sorrows. How do you know Jesus is still leading?

He is still opening timely insights from His Word every morning as you seek Him. He is still answering your prayers about other, less crucial issues, one here, one there, in this situation, or that. He is still reassuring you with His empowering, peaceful, sensed presence whenever you draw near. He is still recharging your spirit whenever you pray in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18). He is still giving you words of correction when you think, say, or do something displeasing to Him. In short, He is right there with you, covering you, surrounding you, indwelling you by the Holy Spirit. So, don't tremble in your Red Sea trial.

Instead, trust! Trust His unchanging nature - utterly faithful holy love. Trust His Word - the inerrant divine light that has illuminated the right life-path for countless Christians before you. Trust His Spirit - the divine Helper and Guide Jesus personally sent to get you through the deepest depths of every "Red Sea." Trust His unfailing faithfulness - that has never failed even the simplest, weakest Christian who quietly but firmly put his (or her) trust in Him. And don't stop there.

Trust His wisdom - He knows precisely where He is taking you, how to get you there, what He wants to accomplish in you in your depths, and how He plans to use you afterward. Trust the biblical example referred to in Psalm 106. Believe that if He led a bunch of rowdy, carnally minded, spiritually immature Hebrew slaves to victory over the mightiest army of their day, He will also take you through your depths.

Meanwhile, here is what He wants you to do about your enemies: ignore them! Psalm 37 is a trusted guide in the matter of handling evildoers. "Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious of the workers of iniquity . . . Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in him, and he shall bring it [your victory and vindication] to pass" (Psalm 37:1-5). If you follow this Psalm's counsel, neither your adversaries nor their unfair accusations and sharp, penetrating insults can stop you. That is, unless you brood on them, grow bitter, refuse to forgive them, and self-destruct. Be humbler, wiser, and more obedient than that.

The bottom line is, there is absolutely no reason for the abiding Christian to fear "the depths." No matter how deep, dark, or strange. They certainly don't scare Jesus. Why? He made them! And He has led many believers through them long before you were born.

So, let His purpose be clear. He has not brought you into the "depths" to finish you, but to finish training and perfecting your faith. Believing this, don't wait until you get to the other side to believe and praise Him as the Hebrews did (Psalm 106:12). Praise Him now, by faith - and watch for the next Word, prompt, or sign of His leading.

May He find you, and me, and all remnant believers, still faithfully following Him through "the depths."

Following Him through my depths,

Dr. Greg Hinnant

GREG HINNANT MINISTRIES